Play Brain Assist (EU) Online

I picked up Brain Assist for the Nintendo DS back in 2008, a Sega release that fit right in with the handheld's library of quick, stylus-driven games. It was part of that wave of titles designed to make you think, not just react, and it felt right at home among other puzzle and training games on the system.

You don't control a character so much as you guide your own focus through a series of mental exercises. The main goal is to complete various puzzles and memory tests to improve your cognitive skills, or just to pass the time. You use the touch screen to match patterns, solve math problems quickly, and recall sequences under time pressure. The pacing is brisk, with most activities lasting only a minute or two, but the difficulty can sneak up on you as you advance. It feels satisfying when you beat your own best time, like giving your brain a quick, focused workout.